Self-reported sleep quality and exercise in polycystic ovary syndrome: A secondary analysis of a pilot randomized controlled trial

Jamie L Benham; Jane E Booth; Gary Goldfield; Christine M Friedenreich; Doreen M Rabi; Ronald J Sigal

doi:10.1111/cen.14900

Self-reported sleep quality and exercise in polycystic ovary syndrome: A secondary analysis of a pilot randomized controlled trial

Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2023 May;98(5):700-708. doi: 10.1111/cen.14900. Epub 2023 Mar 6.

Authors

Jamie L Benham^{1

2}, Jane E Booth², Gary Goldfield³, Christine M Friedenreich^{2

4

5

6}, Doreen M Rabi^{1

2

7}, Ronald J Sigal^{1

2

5

7}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
² Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
³ Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
⁴ Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Cancer Care Alberta, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
⁵ Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
⁶ Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
⁷ Department of Cardiac Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

PMID: 36843192
DOI: 10.1111/cen.14900

Abstract

Objective: To examine the proportion of participants with poor sleep quality, evaluate the associations between sleep quality and anthropometric and cardiometabolic health markers, and evaluate the effect of high intensity interval training (HIIT) and continuous aerobic exercise training (CAET) on sleep quality in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Design: Secondary analysis of a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Patients: Women with PCOS aged 18-40 years.

Measurements: The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was measured at baseline and following a 6-month exercise intervention. A PSQI score >5 indicates poor sleep. Linear regression was used to evaluate the associations between PSQI score and anthropometric and cardiometabolic health markers, and the effect of exercise training on these associations.

Results: Thirty-four participants completed the PSQI at baseline, and 29 postintervention: no-exercise control (n = 9), HIIT (n = 12) and CAET (n = 8). At baseline, 79% had poor sleep quality. Baseline PSQI score was positively correlated with body mass index, waist circumference, body weight, haemoglobin A1c and insulin resistance. Mean PSQI score changes were -0.4 (SD 1.1), -0.7 (SD 0.6) and -0.5 (SD 0.9) for control, HIIT and CAET, respectively. For HIIT participants, change in PSQI score was associated with changes in body weight (B = .27, 95% CI 0.10-0.45) and waist circumference (B = .09, 95% CI 0.02-0.17).

Conclusion: Most participants had poor sleep quality which was associated with poorer anthropometric and cardiometabolic health markers. There were no statistically significant changes in PSQI score with exercise training. With HIIT training, decreases in the sleep efficiency score were associated with reductions in body weight and waist circumference. Further studies are needed to determine the effect of exercise training on sleep quality.

Keywords: exercise; high-intensity interval training; polycystic ovary syndrome; randomized controlled trial; sleep; sleep quality; women's health.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Body Weight
Cardiovascular Diseases*
Exercise
Female
Humans
Pilot Projects
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome* / therapy
Self Report
Sleep Quality